Takeovers and the Role of State Agencies in District Reform: An Analysis of Authorizing Legislation

• In Event: From State Agencies to Middle Managers: Theorizing Organizational Processes

Abstract

Takeover – when a state education agency (SEA) takes control of a low-performing school district – is a controversial reform strategy. Existing evidence on takeover’s ability to improve school districts is, at best, mixed, yet SEAs continue to initiate takeovers (Schueler & Bleiberg, 2021). One reason for the variation in results may be that each state has a unique takeover law, which is likely to produce differences in determining which resources, capacity, and authority SEAs can leverage as they enter this role. Thus, I analyze all U.S. takeover statutes, asking, To what extent do takeover laws provide for SEAs to boost LEA capacity, monitor district turnaround, improve their own capacity, and engage local stakeholders as they take on a direct governance role?

Author

• Simone Fried, University at Buffalo - SUNY